Drmtlgy Review: I Tried 9 Drmtlgy Products

Drmtlgy is a skincare brand that offers a range of products for different skin types and concerns. It’s not quite budget and not quite luxury skincare, but somewhere in between.

The first Drmtlgy product that I tried was their Needle-less Serum. SPOILER: I absolutely loved it, which led me down a rabbit hole of trying several Drmtlgy products.

So today, I’ll discuss my experience with nine Drmtlgy products, including serums, treatments, moisturizers, and sunscreens, in this Drmtlgy review.

It contains several nourishing active ingredients like hydrating sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), anti-aging peptides Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, better known as Matrixyl 3000, skin barrier-supporting ceramides, brightening niacinamide and more.

For more details on active ingredients, see my Needle-less Serum review here.

I’ve been using this serum for several months and have gone through multiple bottles, so I think it’s safe to say this is my favorite Drmtlgy product.

After using this serum, I notice that my skin is smoother with improved clarity. I don’t think it quite rivals retinol, but it gives me better skin-smoothing results than any other non-irritating serum I’ve tried.

If you had to start with one product, my choice would unequivocally be Needle-less Serum because you can use it twice a day without worrying about overdoing it as you would with my other go-to’s: vitamin C and retinol.

Drmtlgy Needle-less Serum Drawbacks

Drmtlgy Needle-less Serum is a little pricey, but I think it is entirely worth it.

This serum is designed to brighten, firm, and protect the skin from free radical damage.

Pure vitamin C has many benefits for the skin, such as improving the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots.

It also interrupts melanin (pigment) production, which is a benefit for people with uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and dark spots.

Vitamin C also helps to protect the skin from environmental pollutants and sun damage.

This 15% concentration is somewhat on the higher end. Please note that ascorbic acid may cause a mild tingling sensation when applied to the face, especially for those with sensitive skin.

This serum also contains 1% vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from environmental damage.

When combined with vitamin E, ferulic acid has been shown to double photoprotection (which prevents damage from UV radiation) and increases the stability of vitamin C.

The serum also contains hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant that helps keep skin hydrated. Acetyl octapeptide-3 is also in the formula, which is a peptide that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

This serum comes in a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that I find dries down quickly.

I think this is an excellent water-based vitamin C serum. I love the added vitamin E and ferulic acid to rev up the benefits of vitamin C.

It has that telltale hotdog scent commonly found in water-based ascorbic acid products.

It did not irritate my skin at all, and my skin feels nicely hydrated after using it in my morning skincare routine.

Drmtlgy Vitamin C E + F Serum Drawbacks

The scent may be a turn-off to some. It smells a bit like hotdogs!

While not the cheapest vitamin C serum out there, this serum is an excellent alternative to the cult-favorite SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum.

It helps improve the look of dull, dry skin with its gentle formula.

This face scrub also contains sugar cane extract, a natural humectant, and moisturizer that helps exfoliate and brighten the skin. Lemon fruit extract, apple fruit extract, and green tea leaf extract provide antioxidant benefits.

I’m not usually a fan of physical exfoliants, but I found this scrub mild and not too abrasive. I use it a few times a week and am pleased with how smooth and soft my skin feels after using it.

It helps reduce the appearance of my pores, and my skin feels SO soft and looks more radiant after using this scrub.

Drmtlgy Microdermabrasion Scrub Drawbacks

No matter how gentle, physical exfoliants can cause irritation if used too frequently or on sensitive skin. It’s important to follow the directions carefully and use this product only as directed.

If you have dry skin, physical scrubs may not just irritate but also compromise your skin barrier, so it’s important to patch test before using it for the first time.

This creamy exfoliating serum is formulated with an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) in the form of 12% lactic acid and a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) in the form of gluconolactone.

Lactic acid is a chemical exfoliant that helps to dissolve dead skin cells to reveal brighter, more luminous skin.

It has a larger molecule size than glycolic acid, another popular AHA, so it’s gentler on the skin and causes less irritation.

Gluconolactone is a PHA, which is a gentle exfoliant that helps improve skin clarity.  Lactobionic acid is another PHA in the formula that gently exfoliates while moisturizing the skin.

The advanced formula also contains mandelic acid, an AHA that is even more gentle than lactic acid, which refines and evens out skin tone.

Licorice root extract is included to help reduce the appearance of dark spots and discoloration, while bisabolol and allantoin help soothe the skin.

I’ve been using this serum for a few weeks and am impressed with the results. My skin is brighter and smoother.

While it tingles for a few seconds after application, it doesn’t sting like some glycolic acid serums I’ve used.

I love alternating this serum one night with retinol the next night for improving fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and skin clarity.

This is a nice alternative to my holy grail lactic acid serum, Sunday Riley Good Genes.

Drmtlgy L.A. Refining Serum Drawbacks

Since it contains AHAs, this lactic acid serum could be irritating for those with sensitive skin.

Also, it’s pricier than some lactic acid serums out there, although I think the ingredient list supports a higher price.

This treatment contains 0.5% retinol to help reduce the visible signs of aging and improve skin texture.

Retinol is a retinoid that improves cell turnover to brighten dull skin and improve uneven skin tone and texture.

This all-star over-the-counter anti-ager also helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and even can help with acne.

The additional active ingredients that make up the complex are vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate) and vitamin E, which help improve the effectiveness of the retinoid.

Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that help protect the skin from environmental damage and also work to brighten skin tone and reduce signs of aging.

This retinol treatment is also formulated with Drmtlgy’s proprietary Trans-Epidermal Carrier to maximize the product’s effectiveness.

It only contains 8 ingredients, a few of which are silicones, so I wasn’t surprised to feel a silky smooth texture after applying it to my skin.

After using it in the evening, I wake to find my skin looking smooth and nearly poreless. I find my wrinkles look much less pronounced and even have seen an improvement in dark spots that had been bothering me.

Even though I’ve been working my way up to higher retinol strengths when testing products for the past few months, I was surprised that I didn’t experience any irritation, redness, or peeling, which is common with retinol use.

I know my somewhat sensitive skin well enough to use it every other day to avoid unwanted side effects.

Overall, I am very pleased with Drmtlgy Retinol Complex 0.5%.

Just be sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when using this product (and every day) since retinol can make your skin sensitive to the sun.

Drmtlgy Retinol Complex 0.5% Drawbacks

Is it the cheapest 0.5% retinol on the market? No, but it does have an elegant texture and wears comfortably on my skin.

Also, this retinol treatment contains a higher concentration of silicones, so if you don’t like silicone in your products, you should probably avoid this serum.

This skin care product contains over 15 anti-aging actives, including peptides such as palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and palmitoyl tripeptide-1, the peptide duo better known as Matrixyl 3000.

This potent peptide duo helps to reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines by helping to stimulate collagen production.

Trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2 and palmitoyl tripeptide-5 work to improve firmness, skin elasticity, and sagging skin.

Tetradecyl aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric (that’s a real word!) urea trifluoroacetate boosts hyaluronic acid production in the skin and improves the quality of collagen fibers.

The cream also contains moisturizing shea butter and multiple ceramides and lipids to repair the skin barrier and nourish and hydrate the skin.

The cream feels very luxurious and rich on my skin but has a surprisingly lightweight texture.

The main words that come to mind when describing it are “pillowy” and “plump” because that’s how my skin feels after application.

When a cream is very rich, it can make your skin feel greasy and weigh your skin down, but this cream absorbs quickly and feels comfortable on my skin.

Since this fragrance-free night cream doesn’t contain retinol or other strong actives, you can apply it after other anti-aging aging ingredients without worrying about conflicts.

For instance, I’ve been enjoying pairing it with a retinol serum to get double the anti-aging benefits since peptides and retinol play well together.

It’s very nourishing and plumping, so I think it would be ideal if you have a normal, dehydrated, or dry skin type.

Drmtlgy Peptide Night Cream Drawbacks

While the moisturizer contains several anti-aging actives, it does not contain well-studied actives like retinol, AHAs, or vitamin C.

Peptides are promising ingredients but less well-studied than other popular skincare anti-aging ingredients.

The packaging may not be everyone’s favorite. Since it comes in a jar, you have to scoop out the product with a spatula or your fingers, the latter of which can be unhygienic.

It would have been nice if it came in a pump dispenser.

Although the price has been a drawback to some of the other products in this post, this night cream comes in a 2 oz jar and is $46, so it’s not that much more than drugstore moisturizers ounce for ounce.

The neck creams smoothes the delicate skin on your neck and also helps reduce hyperpigmentation and age spots.

The cream is filled with active ingredients typically seen in a high-end face cream.

Several peptides work together to improve skin firmness, elasticity, and sagging skin. They support collagen production and help improve skin texture.

Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, and Ceramide EOP are ceramides in this formula that help to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier. (Think of ceramides like the glue that helps hold the skin cells together.)

Shea butter, wheat germ oil, and sweet almond oil provide moisture to this delicate area and give the cream a silky smooth feel on my skin.

For a complete list of active ingredients and skin benefits, be sure to check out my Drmtlgy Advanced Neck Cream review.

I’ve been using this neck moisturizer every morning and night. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated, softer, and smoother.

I love the fact that this cream contains several peptides that target the concerns of aging skin but don’t cause irritation like other actives (i.e., retinol, glycolic acid, vitamin C).

Drmtlgy Advanced Neck Cream Drawbacks

This neck cream is somewhat expensive, considering that it is a separate product you’ll need to purchase in addition to a moisturizer for your face.

If you are dealing with crepey skin, loss of firmness, lines, and discoloration on your neck and decollete area, this cream could be a great purchase, but if your neck is not a concern, you can probably skip this cream.

The moisturizer contains broad-spectrum SPF 44 UVA/UVB sun protection in the form of zinc oxide 10% and titanium dioxide 5.5%.

The reef-safe formula is tinted a medium shade and is suitable for all skin tones. It is also safe for sensitive skin. The formula is oil-free and won’t clog pores or cause acne or breakouts.

This tinted moisturizer also contains hydration sodium hyaluronate (the salt form of hyaluronic acid) and vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant to fight free radical damage. Iron oxides protect from blue light.

This tinted sunscreen has a lightweight, silky feel that blends easily and is not greasy or heavy on the skin. It also provides a sheer wash of coverage and evens out my skin tone without looking cakey or fake.

The tint is slightly dark for my skin, but my foundation lightens the tint enough so that it isn’t noticeable.

Thanks to the tint, the sunscreen doesn’t create much of a white cast, so it’s more suitable for various skin tones.

For more on this tinted moisturizer, please see my Drmtlgy Physical Tinted Moisturizer SPF 44 review.

Drmtlgy Physical Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 44 Drawbacks

While this sunscreen/moisturizer contains nourishing ingredients, it doesn’t contain many anti-aging actives like Drmtlgy’s chemical sunscreens, such as multi-tasking niacinamide.

Since its tint is only available in one medium shade, it might not be suitable for every skin tone.

This non-nano mineral sunscreen contains 17% zinc oxide to protect against UVA and UVB rays and is water and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

The fragrance-free moisturizer is also non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores and cause breakouts and is suitable for sensitive skin.

It contains plant-based antioxidants like bioflavonoids that fight free radicals and protect the skin against environmental stressors.

The moisturizer contains actives like glycerin, shea butter, and lecithin to lock in hydration and strengthen the skin barrier. It’s formulated to absorb quickly into the skin without any white cast.

This cream is super silky and feels very hydrating immediately after application. I do notice a bit of a white cast (even on my light complexion), but that dissipates after absorbing into my skin.

It works well under makeup and isn’t heavy or greasy on my skin.

I love the gorgeous jar packaging. You press down on top of the jar, and the moisturizer dispenses from the top.

I prefer this Day Dream SPF 40 over Physical Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 44 since the tint is a little dark for my skin.

Drmtlgy Day Dream SPF 40 Drawbacks

If you have a darker skin tone, you may notice a white cast. I have a lighter skin tone, and I saw a bit of a white cast upon application that went away after it absorbed into my skin.

The Bottom Line

I’m very impressed with Drmtlgy products. Drmtlgy formulations are chock full of effective actives that actually deliver on their promises. Not to mention, they all have a luxurious feel on the skin.

While you won’t find Drmtlgy skincare products available at low drugstore prices, they are not the most expensive skincare products out there, and you can often find them on sale.

If you don’t know where to begin, I’ll always suggest starting with their star product: Drmtlgy Needle-less Serum, since it is a multi-tasking product that is ideal for most skin types and can be used both morning and night.

Remember, when it comes to skincare, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

Everyone’s skin is different and reacts differently to products, so it’s important to experiment with different products to find the perfect combination for you.

Thanks for reading, and until next time, here’s to your good skin health!